The parents of Joshua and Antonio George, the two young boys who perished in the fire at the Drop-in Centre, have agreed to accept the government’s offer of a plot of land and a fully furnished two-bedroom house.
After the results of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the fire stated that the government should offer some sort of compensation to the family, the Ministry of Social Protection had met with the family last week and had offered a plot of land and a fully furnished two-bedroom house along with other assistance to their parents.
However, Sonia and Leon George had told Stabroek News that they needed time to think and another meeting was convened on Friday, when a source said the couple accepted the government’s offer.
The source related that the next move is to get the documents processed, which is expected to be completed by Thursday. The house lot has been identified in Sophia and construction is expected to start soon. It is hoped that the family would be moved in before Christmas.
“They need some help in bringing up the children and so there will be a neutral person that they will receive professional help from,” the source said, while explaining that the training will start in the coming weeks and will run until February or longer, depending on the progress made.
The ministry will offer help to the family based on the family code and will cover five main categories: Living conditions, family and social relationships, behaviour (for both the parents and children), physical and mental health and education, employment and household economy. “Whatever short comings the parents have, the ministry will also try to assist them,” the source said.
The source also explained there is expected to be a major personnel change at the Child Care and Protection Agency.
While 29 other children who were at the facility escaped, two young brothers died in the July 7 fire. The Ministry of Social Protection has taken full responsibility for the tragedy and covered all expenses of the funerals.
The two boys were among three other siblings that were taken from their parents after there were reports of abuse and neglect.
